Door closing and checking mechanism



fimgq 10 1926. 15%,171

) H. w. SHONNARD DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 11, 19245 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN, OR

Aug. 10 1926.

I H. W. SHONNARD DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 11, 19243 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug; 10, 1926.

one TATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. SHQNNARD, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOIR 'I'Q ELEVATORSUP- j IPLIES COMPANY, INC., 01? HOZBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFJER- SEY.

DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. $13,051.

This invention relates to door closing and check mechanisms and moreparticularly to mechanisms of this class, especially adapted for useupon the doors of elevator hatch- Ways. Certain mechanisms of thischaracter at present in common commercial use embody a dash potcomprising a cylinder and a piston mounted on a piston rod and operatingin the cylinder and operating connections between an elevator door andone of said parts. The movement of the piston through the cylinder iscontrolled by oil or other suitable fluid with which the cylinder isfilled, the movement of the piston being checked by the oil as thepiston approaches an end of the cylinder to check the movement of thedoor. In one form of door operating and controlling mechanism embodyingthis form of check mechanism, a second cylinder is connected with thedash pot cylinder and a second piston is mounted on the piston rod andis arranged. to be operated by air or other fluid under pressure toproduce movements of the door. Certain featuresof the present inventionrelate to means for preventing in a door operating and controllingmechanism of the latter type, the leakage of oil from the dash potcylinder between the headof the dash ,pot cylinder and the piston rodinto the second cylinder. In their broader aspects these features arenot limited to a door operating and controlling mechanism havin a dashpot cylinder and a door operating cylinder but may be embodied in asimple dash pot mechanism. 1

Certain features of the invention relate to improvements in themechanism for controlling the flow of oil or other fluid from one sideof the piston to the other in a door controlling dash pot mechanism.

In door operating and controlling mechanisms of this class the dash potcylinder is often provided with devices mounted on one side of'thecylinder to regulate the action of the dash pot mechanism audit istherefore desirable to be able to locate the dash 'pot cylinder in anangular position about its axis to render these devices always readilyaccessible. Certain features of the invention relate to devices forsupporting the dash pot cylinder to secure this latter result.

The features of the invention will be' readily understood from theaccompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred formand the following detailed description of the constructions thereinshown. In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front'elevationillustrating a door operating and controlling mechanism embodying theinvention applied to the sliding doors of an elevator hatch- Figure 2 isa sectional view taken in a plane containing the axis of the dash potand door operating cylinders;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 taken in a plane at right anglesto the plane ofthe latter figure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 ofFigure 3; and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 77 ofFigure 3.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the inventionis embodied in by swinging the lever 16 upwardly from the positionshown; in Figure 1, and the doors may be closed by swinging the leverback to the position shown in this figure.

The mechanism for operating and controlling the movements of the doorsis preferably connected with the lever 16. This mechanism embodies adashv pot for check 'ing the movement of the doors comprising a cylinder22 having a cylindrical chamber 24 in which slides. a piston 26 attachedto one end of a piston rod 28, the other end of closed by a cap 31having a lug by which piston.

the cylinder is pivotally supported at 32 upon a bracket attached to thedoor frame. The cylinder 22 is filled with a fluid preferably oil, whichcontrols the movement of the piston through the cylinder. 'In thepresent embodiment of the invention the. dash pot mechanism is arrangedto check both the final opening and the final closing movements of thedoor'and to allow; a comparatively free movement of the doors in eitherdirection until they approach open or closed positions. The cylinder 22is provided with a lay-pass 34 through which the oil may flow in eitherdirection during the movement of the piston in the'outer or lower end ofthe cylinder. Two openings 35 .and

36 are provided leading from the by-pass into the central chamber in thecylinder and the flow of oil through the opening 34 is controlled byadjustable check-valve 38. This check valve is cut away at 39 back ofits head to allow the free flow of oil through the portion of theby-pass across which the valve extends. During the downward movement ofthe piston in-the lower end of the chamber 24 the opening-36 is closedby a spring-pressed ball valve. 40. This valve is mounted in a tubularholder 42 having openings 44 to permit the oil to flow into the same andthrough its pressure on the ball assist in holding the ball in closedpositioii during this part of the movement of the During the downwardmovement of the piston in the chamber 24 which occurs during the closingmovement of the door the movement of the piston is comparatlvely freeuntil the piston reaches the opening 35. As the piston continues itsdownward movement the opening 36 is closed by the'ball valve 40 and theoil is forced to flow from the by-pass 34 between the head ,or checkvalve 38 and the wall of the opening 35 into the chamber 24, therebychecking the oil flow and causing a slow and gradual movment of thepiston. During the upward movement of i the piston in the cylinder whichoccurs during the opening movement of the door, the movement of thepiston is comparatively free until the piston approachesthe upper end ofthe cylinder when the flow of the oil in the cylinder is checked insubstantially the same manner as during the movement of the piston inthe lower portion of the cylinder thereby checking the last part ofthe-upward movement of the piston. During the first part of the upwardmovement of the piston in the cylinder the a series of grooves 43 sothat the movement of the piston through the central part of the cylinderis substantially unretarded.

The upper'portion of the cylinder is provided with a bypass 45 connectedby an opening 46 with a by-pass 48. The by-pass H 48 is connected withthe chamber 24 by an opening 50 and said by-pass opens at its lower endinto the by-pass 45. The flow of oilthroughthe opening 46 is controlledby a spring pressed check valve 52. During the upward movement of thepiston in the chamber 24t-he by-pass 48 is closed by a ballvalve 54.

' During the upward movement of the p stonin the cylinder the movementof the piston is comparatively free until the piston passes the lowerend of the=-1by pass 45. As the piston continues its upward movement theby-pass 48 is closed "by the ball valve 54 and the oil from the chamber24 is caused to flow through the opening50, across the upper end of thelatter b y-pass between the check valve 52 and the wall of the opening46, and then downwardly through the bypass 45 into the chamber- 24 onthe other side of the piston. Thus the last part of the upward movementof the piston is checked to check the final closing movement of thedoors. As the piston moves downward from the upper part of the cylinder.the ball valve 54 is lifted by the pressure of the oil beneath the same,allowing the oil to flow freely from the chamber 24- through the lowerend of the by-pass 45 and through by-pass 48 and opening 50 back intothe chamber on the other side of the piston. Thus the movement of thepiston at this time is comparatively free. a

The check valve 52 is slidably mounted in a barrel 53 and is acted uponby a coiled spring 55 interposed between the valve and a block 57 alsoslidably mounted in the barrel. The block 57 is adjusted to adjust thetension of the spring by means of an adjusting screw 59.

To the upper part of the cylinder 22 is I connected a second cylinder 56preferably threaded into the cylinder .22 and .having a cap 58 forming ahead for the same, through which the piston rod 28 passes.

Mounted within the cylinder 56 is a door -upon their release.

spring is limited by a pin 64 lpassing through tie piston rod. The doorosing spring is compressed upon openingkthadoors and will actuate thepiston rod to close the doors end to a collar 68 mounted to slide longi-.movement of the doors. comprises a piston operating in the cylinder 56and arranged to be actuated by air tudinally on the sleeve 63'. Figures2 and 3 illustrate the position occupied by the collar 68 when the doorsare closed, the collar then being located at some distance from the capon the cylinder 56; As the doors are openedthe collar 68 engages the cap58 during the latter part of the opening movement of the doors, therebycompressing the coiled spring 66. When the doors are released the forceof the coiled spring 66 is added to that of the spring 60 during thefirst part of the closing movement of the doors. The continued movementof the piston rod in the closing movement of the doors, however, at acertain point, disengages the collar 68 froni'the cap 58 with the resultthat the final closing movement of the doors is produced by the actionof the spring 60 alone.

In the present embodiment of the invention mechanism is provided foractuating the piston rod 28 to produce a closing This mechanism or otherfluid tinder pressure introduced into said cylinder. As shown in thedrawing this piston comprises the thimble 62 upon which is mounted aflexible packing Z0, held in place on the thimble by a ring 2. closed bythe "cylinder head 30 and by a ring-shaped plate 74 surrounding the head30, as clearly shown in Figures .2 and 3. Air under pressure isintroduced into the cylinder 56 by means of a pipe 76, the upper end ofwhich is inserted in an opening in the plate 74, and the lower end ofwhich is connected with the pipes of the air supply mechanism. Figure 2of the drawing shows a second pipe 78 for introducing air into thechamber which may or may not be used as desired.

In order to prevent oil from being forced from the dash pot cylinderbetween the piston rod and the cylinder head 30, the cylinder head isprovided with spaced stufling boxes separated by acatch chamber. Thelower stuffing box comprises a parking 80 surrounding the piston rod anda packing holding and compressing ring 82 threaded into the cylinderhead. The upper stuffing box comprises a packing 84 surrounding thepiston rod and a packing holding and valves will be difiicult of access.

The lower end of the cylinder 56 iscompressing ring 86 threaded into thecylinder head. Between the two stufling boxes the cylinder head isformed, with a chamber 88 for catchin the oil forced through the lowerstuffing oil in the upper part of the chamber 24. The oil forced intothe chamber 88 is drained off through ducts 90 leading to an. annulargroove 92, both formed in the cylinder head 30. From the groove 92 theoil is discharged through ducts 94 in the plate '74 into an annularchamber 96 in the cylinox-by the pressure of the" d'er 22, the lower endof which chamber is connected with the central chamber 24 by a series ofopenings 98. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 3, that theleft hand groove 48 is connected witlrthe'bypass 4:5 and also with theopening 35; by suitable passageways. It will also be noted that thegrooves 43 are constructed and arranged so that when the upper part ofthe piston in its upward stroke reaches a point just above the lowerpart of the by-pass45 at which point anincrease in pressure above thepiston begins, the lower ends of the grooves are exposed below thepiston.

There is, therefore, never any pressure in dash pot cylinder. If the cap31 is threaded on the end of the dash pot cylinder the angular-positionof the cylinder about its axis with relation to the cap when the cap isscrewed tight may be such that these .To enable these valves to berendered readily accessible at all times it is desirable that-the dashpot cylinder should be able to be located in an unvarying position withrelation to the cap when the cap is tight and that the position of thecylinder with relation to the cap should be able to be varied fordiffer; ent installations. To secure these results the cap=3l isattached to the lower end of the dash pot cylinder by means of a collar100 threaded upon the cylinder and having a flange arranged to overhangthe cap, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, a gasket preferably beinginserted between the cap and the end of the cylinder. Thisenables thecylinder to be located in an unvarying angular position withrelation tothe cap or to be adjusted angularly in different positions.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular construc tion and arrangement of parts of the illustratedembodiment of the invention but that the invention ma v be embodied inother forms within the scope of the claims.

Having explained thenature and object of the invention and havingspecifically deto receive the fluid forced between the closure and thewall of the inner opening, and

constantly open dncts leading from said openings to a space in thecylinder in which only "low pressure occurs. 7

2. A door closing andcheck mechanism having in combination, a cylinder,a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a doorand one of said parts, a piston rod, a quantity of fluid in saidcylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a closure for anend portion of the cylinder in which relatively high pressure occurshaving an opening through which the rod extends and arranged to fitclosely to the rod, and means for catching the fluid forced between theclosure and the rod and constantly open ducts for returning the same tothe cylinder at a place where only low pressure occurs. 1

3. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination a cylinder,a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a doorand one of said parts,

a. piston rod, a quantity of fluid insaid cylinder for controlling themovement of the piston. a closure for an end portionof the cylinderinwhich relatively high pressure occurs, having spaced inner and outeropenings through which the piston rod moves and arranged to fit closelyto the piston red at said openings, a catch chamber between saidopenings to receive the fluid forced between the closure and the wall ofthe inner opening, and constantly open ducts leading from said diatespace in which only low pressure occurs, operating connections be tweena door and one i of said parts, a quantity of fluid in said cylinder'for controlling the movement of the piston, a piston rod, a closure forone end of the cylinder having an opening through which the rod extendsarranged to fit closely to the rod at said opening, means for retardingthe movements of the fluid from said high pressure spaces during themovement of the piston fromthe central port-ion of the cylinder towardeither end thereof, and means for catching fluid forced between theclosure and the rod and returning the same to a .low pressure space inthe cylinder.

5. A.door closing andcheck mechanism having. in combination a piston, acylinder having relatively high pressure spaces at its opposite ends,and an intermediate space in which only low pressure occurs, operatingconnect-ions between a door and one of said parts, a quantity of fluidin the cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a pistonrod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having an opening throughwhich the rod extends arranged to fit closely to .the rod at saidopening, by-passes through which the fluid flows from the high pressurespaces into the intermediate low pressure spaceduring the movements ofthe piston fromthe central portion of the cylinder toward either I ofsaid parts, a quantity of fluid in the' cylinder for controlling themovement of the piston, a piston rod, a closure for one end of thecylinder having an opening through which the piston rodextends andarranged to fit the rod closely at said opening, means for-producingmovements of the door comprising a second cylinder connected with thelatter end of the first cylinder, a iston mounted on the rod andoperating 1n the latter cylinder, means for introducing fluid underpressure into the latter cylinder to actuate the piston, and meansforcatching fluid which may be force-cl from the first cylinder between theclosure'and the piston rod and returning the same to the first cylinder.

7. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination, means forchecking movements of the doors comprising a cylinder, a piston,operating connections between a door and one of said parts, a quantityof fluid in the cylinder for controlling the movements of the piston, apiston rod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having spacedopenings, and arranged to fit closely to the rod as said openings, meansfor producing movements of the doors comprising a second cylinderconnected with the latter end of the first cylinder, a piston mounted onthe rodand operating in the latter cylinder, means for introducingfluid'under pressure into the latter cylinder, an intermediate catchchamber .in said closure beoperatoperating in the cylinder, operatingconnections between a doorand one of said parts, a quantity of fluid inthe cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a cap on oneend of the cylinder, means for'supporting the cylindercarriedby thecap,and means for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cap and thecylinder in any desired relative angular position about the axis of thecylinder.

- 9. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination acylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connectionsbetween a door and. one of said parts, a quantity of fluid in thecylinder for control ling the movement of the piston, a cap on one endof the cylinder, means for support ing the cylinder carried by the capand means for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cap and cylinderin any desired relative angular position about the axis of the cylindercomprising a collarthreaded on the end of the cylinder andhaving aflange overhanging the cap. v

10. A door closing mechanism having in combination a' piston, acylinderin which" the piston operates, operating connections between adoor and one of said parts, means for stronglyv retarding the outwardtravel of the piston from the center toward either end of the cylinderat the end of the piston stroke while only weakly retarding the inwardtravel of the piston from either end of the cylinder, means for storingenergy durcoiled spring.

ing the operation of the piston in one direction, said means beingcapablerof actuating the piston on the return stroke and beingcharacterized by the fact that a greater part of the energy is expendedduring the first portion of the return stroke of the piston,

said proportion of energy beinggreater than that capable of beingreleased by a single 11. A door closing mechanism having combination apiston, a cylinder in which the piston operates, operating connectionsbetween a door-and one of said parts,'means for strongly retarding theoutward travel of the piston from the center toward either end of thecylinder at the end of the piston stroke while'only weakly retarding theinward travel of the piston from either end of the cylinder, means forstoring energy during the operation of the piston in one direction, a;plurality of coiled springs arrange to be progressively compressed bythe movement of the piston'in one direction, whereby the force exerted.on the piston in the opposite direction shows a high maximum during thefirst portion of the return stroke. v

12. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination a cylinder,a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a doorand one of saidparts, a quantity ofcfluid in the cylinder forcontrolling the movement of the piston, a cap on one end of thecylinder, means for support. ing the cylinder carried by the cap, andmeans for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cylinder in anunvarying angular position with relation to the cap.

- Signed at Hoboken, New Jersey this Sthg day of October 1924;

